Tee and system and method for using same

ABSTRACT

Devices and methods for supporting or holding a ball off of a surface in a position and manner suitable for being hit are disclosed. One embodiment may include a lower portion coupled to an upper portion via a height adjuster; an arm extending from the upper portion; a ball retention portion extending from the arm; and a stake extending from the lower portion, wherein the ball retention portion is configured to hold a ball off of a surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices for supporting or holding a ball off of the ground in a position and manner suitable for being hit.

BACKGROUND

While golfing with traditional golf tees, power and control are lost when the golf club hits the tee and/or the ground while hitting the ball. In addition to losing power and control, striking a tee or the ground with a golf club can mar, mark, or otherwise damage the head of a golf club. Accordingly, there is a need for golf tees where more power from drives are delivered to the ball and are not diverted to the tee or the ground.

SUMMARY

One disclosed embodiment achieves this goal by an apparatus configured for suspending and lightly holding a golf ball such that it hangs just above the ground or another surface. When a golf club strikes the golf ball, the apparatus holding the golf ball will release the ball.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a tee having a support body having a stake, a lower portion, an upper portion; and a height adjuster. The height of the support body may be adjustable by relative movement between the lower portion and the upper portion via the height adjuster, and wherein the stake is coupled to the lower portion and configured to be inserted into a surface. The tee may also have an arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from the upper portion; an annular hanger rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm; and a ball retention portion suspended from the annular hanger. The ball retention portion may be configured to hold a ball off of the surface and release the ball upon contact.

Another embodiment may include a tee having a lower portion coupled to an upper portion via a height adjuster configured to adjust a height of the tee; an arm extending from the upper portion; a ball retention portion extending from the arm; and a stake extending from the lower portion. The ball retention portion may be configured to hold a ball off of a surface.

In some embodiments: the length of the ball retention portion may be less than the minimum total distance between a bottom of the lower portion and a top of the upper portion; the arm may extend from the upper portion via a hinge; the ball retention portion may comprise a string that couples a cup to the arm, the cup having a convex surface and a concave surface; the ball retention portion may be a sling; the ball retention portion may be include a magnet and a string; the arm may extend substantially perpendicularly to the body; the ball retention portion may extend substantially parallel to the body; and/or the tee may have other features or combinations thereof.

Another embodiment provides a pocket holding a golf ball, which is lightly attached by string to an arm securely staked into a surface. There may be multiple settings to adjust the height of the arm so the golf ball can be held at the optimum level for the golfer. A wide variety of clubs may be used. For example, the lowest height setting may hold the golf ball so it hovers just above the surface for maximum contact and control when driving with irons. Once the golf club strikes the ball, the golf ball is released. After releasing the ball, the pocket may rotate around the arm.

A method for using an embodiment may include the steps of receiving a tee having a body, an arm extending from the body, a stake extending from a portion of the body opposite the arm, and a ball retention portion extending from the arm; setting up the tee on a surface; and retaining a ball in the ball retention portion so that the ball is not touching the surface.

A method of using an embodiment may also include adjusting the height of the tee. Adjusting the height of the tee may be accomplished by manipulating a height adjustment portion of the body that couples a top portion to a bottom portion. Manipulating a height adjustment portion may include moving a pin, which extends from the body through a portion of the height adjuster, to an adjustment shaft in the adjustment portion; moving the pin through the adjustment shaft such that the pin is substantially near an adjustment landing, attached to the adjustment shaft; and moving the pin from the adjustment shaft to the adjustment landing. A method of using an embodiment may further comprise moving the arm from a first position to a second position.

A method of using an embodiment may include receiving a golf tee having an arm and a pocket lightly attached by string to the arm; securely staking the arm to a ground; placing a golf ball in the pocket; adjusting the height of the golf tee so the golf ball hovers just above the ground for significant contact and control when driving with an iron; and releasing the golf ball by striking the golf ball with a golf club such that the pocket rotates around the arm.

Some embodiments may be specifically designed to produce maximum distance and club speed by reducing friction between the club and the tee, and the tee and the ball. This lack of friction may eliminate slices and hooks and build the player's confidence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the above and other features and advantages, reference is made to the following detailed description and to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tee;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of a tee;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a tee;

FIG. 4 is a top-down view of an embodiment of a tee;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of a tee;

FIG. 6A is a top-down view of a ball marker;

FIG. 6B is a side view of a ball marker; and

FIG. 7 is a view of a golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Devices and methods for supporting or holding a ball in a position and manner suitable for being hit are disclosed herein. Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of embodiments of the disclosure. However, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without these particular details. Moreover, the particular embodiments are provided by way of example and should not be construed as limiting.

Disclosed embodiments may generally relate to devices that are securable to a surface in order to provide a platform for suspending, lightly holding, or otherwise releasably preparing a ball to be hit. For example, some disclosed embodiments may be adapted to play the sport of golf.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a tee 10 having a body 20, a ball retainer 30 and an arm 40. The body 20 may be the portion of the tee 10 that secures the tee 10 to the ground and provides verticality to the tee 10. The body 20 may include a stake 102, a lower portion 110, a height adjuster 120, and an upper portion 130.

The stake 102 of the body 20 may anchor the tee 10 to a surface 50 (e.g., soil, sand or other ground surface where golf tees are commonly inserted). As such, the stake 102 may have various features to make it suited for ease of insertion and anchoring to the surface 50. For ease of insertion, the stake 102 may include a frusto conical portion, a cylinder of a substantially uniform diameter extending from the narrowing diameter of the frusto conical portion, and a tapered tip extending from the cylinder. Accordingly, the stake 102 of the body 20 may be configured substantially similar to a golf tee. In some implementations, the largest diameter of the frusto conical portion is coupled to the lower portion 110. In addition or alternatively, the tapered tip may be a sharp tip, a thin profile, or combinations thereof to improve insertion. For anchoring to the ground, the stake 102 may additionally or alternatively include a corkscrew shape, a flat portion, an arrow-head shape, or combinations thereof to improve anchoring. In further implementations, the stake 102 may be releasably attached to the lower portion 110 of the body 20.

The lower portion 110 of the body 20 may couple the stake 102 to the height adjuster 120. The lower portion 110 of the body 20 may be of various shapes and sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the lower portion 110 may have an elongate shape. The lower portion may take different shapes including an elongate cylinder, rectangle, or other shapes.

The height adjuster 120 of the body 20 is configured to adjust a height of the tee 10. In an embodiment, the height adjuster 120 may comprise a pin 122, an adjustment shaft 124 and an adjustment lander 126; however, other components or height adjustment systems may be used. In one embodiment, the height adjuster 120 may be a hollow cylinder that is slidably coupled to upper portion 130. The pin 122 may be a single pin attached through the upper portion 130 and the height adjuster 120 such that the pin 122 may slide within the adjustment shaft 124 and the adjustment landings 126 while remaining in a substantially fixed location on upper portion 130 while moving relative to the lower portion 110. When the pin 122 is located in an adjustment landing 126, the landing 126 may substantially resist vertical motion by one of the height adjuster 120 and the upper portion 130 by substantially blocking vertical motion of the pin 122. However, while the pin 122 is located in an adjustment landing 126, it may allow for rotational movement between the height adjuster 120 and the upper portion 130. Conversely, while the pin 122 is located within the adjustment shaft 124, the pin 122 may allow vertical motion between the upper portion 130 and the height adjuster 120 and resist rotational motion. This configuration allows the height of the tee 10 to be adjusted by rotating the height adjuster 120 and/or the upper portion 130 until the pin is located within the adjustment shaft 124, adjusting the height, and then rotating the height adjuster 120 and/or the upper portion 130 until the pin is located within the adjustment landing 126.

The height adjuster pattern shown in FIG. 1 is one way to arrange the height adjuster 120, but other configurations are possible. For example, the landings 126 may curve toward the stake 102 to provide further locking.

In addition, the height adjuster 120 may be configured with a smaller diameter relative to the upper portion 130 and slide within the lower portion 110 rather than on the outside of it. Further, in some embodiments, the pin 122 may be coupled to the lower portion 110 of the body 20 instead of the upper portion 130 such that movement of lower portion 110 results in movement of the pin 122 while the upper portion 130 remains substantially fixed. For instance, the upper portion 130 and height adjuster 120 may be fixed to one another, while the lower portion 110 is slidably movable within the height adjuster 120 to enable the pin 122 to move along the adjustment shaft 124 and adjustment landings 126.

The height adjuster 120 need not have a pin-and-landing configuration. The height adjustment may be accomplished by one or more of the following structures: friction fit, ball and detent, spring fingers, threading, raising a hinged arm, rotating a disc, other means for adjusting height, or combinations thereof. The methods for adjusting these other configurations may be known to a person skilled in the art and may be similar to the method described above.

Like the lower portion 110, the height adjuster 120 may take various shapes or sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the height adjuster 120 may have an elongate shape. The lower portion 110 may take different shapes including an elongate cylinder, rectangle, or other shapes. In some embodiments, height adjuster 120 may preferably take a similar shape to but different size from the upper portion 130 so as to aid in the slidable coupling between the height adjuster 120 and the upper portion 130.

The upper portion 130 may be described as the portion of the body 20 above the lower portion 110. The upper portion 130 may have various shapes and sizes. For example, the upper portion 130 may be an elongate shape, cylindrical, rectangular, other shapes and sizes, or combinations thereof. The upper portion 130 may include various components such as a lock 132 and a hinge 134. The hinge 134 may be the portion of the tee 10 that links the arm 40 with the body 20 and allows the arm 40 to change positions or rotations. The lock 132 may substantially fix one or more components of the tee 10. For example, the lock 132 may substantially prevent the arm 40 from moving, changing positions, or rotating. The lock 132 may also substantially prevent one or more of the components of height adjuster 120 from moving, changing position, or rotating. According to certain implementations, the lock 132 may include one or more pins configured to slidably insert into a first end of the arm 40 to lock the arm 40 in an extended position as shown in FIG. 1. Retracting the lock 132 may remove the one or more pins from the arm 40 to enable retraction of the arm 40 when the tee 10 is not in use.

Some embodiments of the tee 10 may be constructed without an upper portion 130. In such embodiments, the arm 40 may be coupled to the body 20 at the height adjuster 120. In embodiments with the lock 132 and/or the hinge 134, these components may be located on the height adjuster 120 as well.

In some embodiments, the body 20 may be configured to telescope. In some embodiments, one or more of the stake 102, the lower portion 110, the height adjuster 120, and the upper portion 130 may be sized, shaped, or otherwise configured to have a telescoping relationship. For example, one or more components may be substantially hollow or have a hollow portion designed to slidably fit around a portion of another component. This telescoping relationship may be caused by, in addition to, or instead of the characteristics of the height adjuster 120.

The arm 40 may be the portion of the tee 10 that links the body 20 to the ball retainer 30 and provides horizontal distance between the ball retainer 30 and the body 20. The arm 40 may take various shapes and sizes including elongate shapes, cylinders, rectangles, other shapes, or combinations thereof. The first end of the arm 40 may be configured to couple to the body 20 and a second end of the arm may be configured to receive a hanger 142 and a ball marker 300 or other device for retaining the hanger 142 on the second end of the arm 40. The hanger 142 may be the portion of the arm 40 that links to the ball retainer 30. The hanger 142 may be an annular hanger configured to rotate about the arm 40. Alternatively, the hanger 142 may be a fixed component, a notch, other attachment feature, or combinations thereof. The hanger 142 may define a through hole configured for receiving a first end of a flexible linking member 144. A second end of the flexible linking member 144 may be configured to couple with the ball retainer 30 such that the ball retainer 30 is suspended via the flexible linking member 144, arm 40 (at least when in the extended position) and the body 20 of the tee 10. The flexible linking member 144 may be formed of various flexible, durable materials such as a polymeric filament or string and may be adapted to withstand forces associated with golf clubs repeatedly impacting the flexible linking member 144. In some implementations, a nylon filament or string is preferred. The second end of the arm 40 may define an opening adapted to receive a ball marker 300 or other removable member adapted to hold the hanger 142 on the arm 40, and which enables removal and/or replacement of the hanger 142 from the arm 40. For instance, where the hanger 142 is configured to freely rotate about the arm 40 but is worn or broken, removal of the ball marker 300 enables the hanger 142 to be slidably removed from the arm 40 and a new hanger to be slidably positioned onto the arm 40. Insertion of the ball marker 300 into the second end of the arm 40 enables the new hanger 142 to be locked into place.

The ball retainer 30 of the tee 10 holds the golf ball 400. In one embodiment, the ball retainer 30 may be configured as a ball cup 200 attached to the hanger 142 by the flexible linking member 144. The ball cup 200 may be a pouch having a concave surface 220 and a convex surface 210. The concave surface 220 may be the portion of the ball cup 200 where the golf ball 400 is kept, held, or retained until it is hit by a golf club.

In another embodiment, the ball retainer 30 may be a sling forming a pouch hanging from the hanger 142. In another embodiment, the ball retainer 30 may include a magnet hanging from the hanger 142. While typical golf balls 400 are not magnetic or are not magnetic enough to be suspended by a magnet, a special training golf ball could be constructed with various magnetic components that enable it to be held by a magnet until hit by a golf club.

The ball retainer 30 may also include various components to alter how the golf ball is held. For example, the ball retainer 30 may include dimples, bumps, a portion of a traditional golf tee, other components that alter the amount of surface area that the ball retainer 30 uses to hold or retain the golf ball 400.

The ball retainer 30 may be constructed of various materials or combinations of materials. For example, the ball retainer 30 may include silicone, rubber, latex, cloth, or other materials. The materials may allow the ball retainer to be hit with substantially limited permanent damage or effect.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of tee 10 that is inserted in the ground 50. In FIG. 2, the pin 122 is located in the highest adjustment landing 126. As such, ball cup 200 is adjusted to be at the highest selectable point above the ground 50. In alternative implementations, the pin 122 may be coupled to the lower portion 110 of the tee 10, and in this case, the position of the pin 122 in FIG. 2 may result in the tee 10 being adjusted to the lowest selectable point above the ground 50, while the position of the pin 122 in FIG. 1 may result in the tee 10 being adjusted to the highest selectable point above the ground 50. Further, it can be seen that stake 102 is inserted into ground 50 so the bottom surface of lower portion 110 rests on the ground 50. This configuration may allow for increased stability of tee 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the tee 10. As shown, pin 122 may extend through the tee 10 or, alternatively, there may be multiple pins 122 present on two sides of the tee 10.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top-down view of tee 10. This perspective illustrates that in certain embodiments, the lock 132 may be a rectangular component on top of the upper portion 130. Additionally, this perspective illustrates that hanger 142 may have a larger diameter or size than arm 40, while the outer diameter of the ball marker 300 or other retention means may be larger than the diameter of the hanger 142 so as to retain the hanger 142 at the second end of the arm 40. In certain implementations, the arm 40 may additionally include an annular protrusion 146, e.g., an annular bead or lip, at the second end that may serve as a stop to prevent the hanger 142 from sliding past the annular protrusion 146 towards the second end of the arm 40.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of tee 10, including ball retainer 30. The concave surface 220 may be substantially circular and be shaped to receive a ball 400. The ball retainer 30 may hang from the arm 40 via the hanger 142 by the flexible linking member 144 or other coupling. The flexible linking member 144 may be substantially loose. In other embodiments, the flexible linking member 144 may be stiff. The ball retainer 30 may be sized such that the total length of the ball retention portion 30 hanging below the arm 40 is less than the minimum total distance between a bottom of the lower portion 110 and a top of the upper portion 130. This may allow for the ball retention portion 30 to be suspended off of the ground 50 even when fully staked in the ground 50 and in the lowest height adjustment 120 setting. In some embodiments, the total height from the tip of stake 102 to the top of upper portion 130 at the fullest extension may be 4 inches; however, longer or shorter configurations are also possible.

FIG. 5 also illustrates, via dashed lines, an embodiment of the tee 10 with the arm 40 in a collapsed configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the arm 40 may be substantially parallel to the body 20. For example, in one configuration, the arm 40 may be substantially perpendicular to the body 20 and then transitioned to a collapsed configuration where the arm 40 is substantially parallel to the body 20 by rotating the arm 40 at the hinge 134. This collapsed configuration may make the tee 10 more convenient to transport or insert into the surface 50.

FIG. 6A illustrates a top-down view of the ball marker 300. The ball marker 300 may have a head 310. The head may be various of one or more colors, or have various features including insignias or reflective components.

FIG. 6B shows a side view of the ball marker 300. The ball marker may have a shaft 320 extending from head 310. The shaft 320 may be configured for easy insertion into the ground 50.

Various materials may be used in the construction of tee 10. The tee may be constructed from any suitable material including but not limited to: metal, wood, plastic, rubber, silicone, other materials, or combinations thereof. Various components may be made of different materials. It may be advantageous to construct one or more components of the tee 10 from specific materials to reduce damage to the tee 10 if it is struck by, for example, a golf club.

FIG. 7 shows a view of a golf ball 400. The golf ball 400 may be substantially spherical with various dimples 410. Golf ball 400 may be a traditional golf ball or, it may be a special training golf ball with unique properties or materials. For example, an embodiment of golf ball 400 may have ferromagnetic properties or components.

An embodiment of tee 10 may be used to suspend a golf ball 400 in the air. A method for using the tee 10 may include various steps. For example, receiving the tee 10 or taking the tee 10 out of a golf bag. The tee 10 may be stored in a collapsed or partially collapsed arrangement. For example, ball cup 200 may be wrapped around arm 40 or otherwise secured to tee 10; arm 40 may be angled down or otherwise collapsed via hinge 134 so it is substantially parallel to body 20 and may be in the alternative arrangement depicted in dash in FIG. 5; and height adjuster 120 may be arranged in a most-collapsed configuration such that the total length of lower portion 110, height adjuster 120, and upper portion 130 may be as short as possible. However, other configurations may be possible. For example, tee 10 may be stored or otherwise kept in a separated configuration such that the various pieces need to be assembled before use. Specifically, stake 102 may be unscrewed or otherwise detached from body 20 and need to be reattached.

A method for using may include the step of preparing tee 10 for use. This step may include various sub-steps including: unwinding the ball cup 200; attaching the ball cup 200 to the arm 40; attaching the ball retention portion 30 to the arm 40; pressing, pushing, pulling, or otherwise releasing the lock 132 to allow the arm 40 to swing, rotate, or otherwise move into a desired position (for example, substantially perpendicular to the body 20); moving the pin 122 from one of the landings 124 to another landing 124 by rotating, twisting, or otherwise moving one or more of the components of the body 20; engaging the lock 132 to prevent one or more components of the body 20 from moving; other preparation steps; or combinations thereof.

A method for using may include the step of attaching tee 10 to the ground 50. This step may include various sub steps such as: pushing the stake 102 into the ground 50, twisting the stake 102 into the ground 50, placing the tee 10 on the ground 50, setting up the tee 10, or combinations thereof. The previous steps may be performed such that the tee 10 is substantially perpendicular to the ground 50, the tee 10 is at an angle, the arm 40 is substantially perpendicular to the ground, the ball retention portion 30 is touching the ground 50; the ball retention portion 30 is touching grass, the ball is suspended off of the ground 50, the ball is suspended off of the grass 50, the ball is less than 4-inches off of the ground, other configurations, or combinations thereof.

A method for using may include the step of teeing up the ball. This step may include various sub-steps including; receiving a ball; placing the ball in the concave surface 220 such that ball is retained by the concave surface 220; placing the ball in the ball cup 200; using a hook-and-loop fastener, magnetism, elastics, clips, springs, rubber bands, slings, stands, cups, bumps, needles, nodules, bristles, other ball retaining features of ball retention portion 30 to retain the ball; otherwise holding the ball; or combinations thereof to tee the ball. This step may be such that the ball is lightly teed so that the ball may be released with minimal retention resisting release.

A method for using may include the step of launching the ball. This step may include various sub steps including: hitting the ball with a golf club; hitting the ball with a bat; hitting the ball with a stick; hitting the ball by hand; otherwise launching the ball in a direction; or combinations thereof. This step may be such that the ball is launched in a desired direction at a desired speed. This step may also be such that the ball is easily released from the tee 10 with minimal resistance or retention.

While this disclosure describes exemplary embodiments of a tee 10, various changes can be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. As understood by those skilled in the art, modifications can also be made to adapt these teachings to different situations and applications, and to the use of other materials and methods, without departing from the essential scope of the tee 10. The invention is thus not limited to the particular examples that are disclosed, and encompasses all of the embodiments falling within the subject matter of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tee comprising: a support body comprising: a stake; a lower portion; an upper portion; and a height adjuster, wherein a height of the support body is adjustable by relative movement between the lower portion and the upper portion via the height adjuster, and wherein the stake is coupled to the lower portion and configured to be inserted into a surface; an arm comprising a first end and a second end, the first end extending from the upper portion; an annular hanger rotatably coupled to the second end of the arm; and a ball retention portion suspended from the annular hanger, wherein the ball retention portion is configured to hold a ball off of the surface and release the ball upon contact.
 2. A tee comprising: a lower portion coupled to an upper portion via a height adjuster configured to adjust a height of the tee; an arm extending from the upper portion; a ball retention portion extending from the arm; and a stake extending from the lower portion, wherein the ball retention portion is configured to hold a ball off of the surface.
 3. The tee of claim 2, wherein the length of the ball retention portion is less than the minimum total distance between a bottom of the lower portion and a top of the upper portion.
 4. The tee of claim 2, wherein the arm extends from the upper portion via a hinge.
 5. The tee of claim 2, wherein the ball retention portion comprises a cup having a convex surface and a concave surface; and a string that couples the cup to the arm.
 6. The tee of claim 2, wherein the ball retention portion is a sling.
 7. The tee of claim 2, wherein the ball retention portion comprises a magnet and a string.
 8. The tee of claim 2, wherein the arm extends substantially perpendicularly to the body.
 9. The tee of claim 2, wherein the ball retention portion extends substantially parallel to the body.
 10. A method of hitting a golf ball comprising: securely staking a golf tee to a surface, the golf tee comprising an arm and a pocket coupled to the arm by a string; placing a golf ball in the pocket; adjusting a height of the golf tee so the golf ball hovers just above the surface for significant contact and control when driving with an iron; and releasing the golf ball by striking the golf ball with a golf club such that the pocket rotates around the arm.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein adjusting the height of the tee is by manipulating a height adjustment portion of a body of the golf tee that couples a top portion of the body to a bottom portion of the body.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein manipulating a height adjustment portion includes: moving a pin extending from the body along an adjustment shaft of the adjustment portion; aligning the pin with an adjustment landing coupled to the adjustment shaft; and moving the pin from the adjustment shaft into the adjustment landing.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving the arm from a first position to a second position. 